Dogs now allowed in John Lewis stores - good idea or not?

From a dogs point of view, surely there can’t be anything worse than being dragged around a shopping centre?

Yet another thread in which people who loathe dogs exaggerate and set out all manner of worst possible scenarios in which dogs will aways behave really badly.

I love John Lewis and I love my dogs. I wouldn't take my huge Woolf like dog, not because I think she'd do anything other than stand or sit quietly by my side, causing no problems for anyone. No, it's because she doesn't need that kind of socialising. She's 11 soon and like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. I may take my 15 month old spaniel. She led a sheltered life before joining us 4 months ago so I'm working hard on socialising her. A trip to our local John Lewis would be something she'd enjoy. She may lack broad socialisation experience but she's very well behaved and would be No Trouble.
I have never had a dog that would start a fight, toilet itself, bit a human (or another dog) in any domestic/human environment. Do any other dog owners here have such badly behaved dogs?

Nope I have a Cairn. He is extremely laid back and quiet when in that sort of environment. He understands completely the difference between indoors and outdoors so toileting simply would not be an issue. In fact toileting isn’t an issue at all in house or garden.
He stops and lays down looking bored, until time to move on.

There is a lot of nonsense talked on these threads, and not typical of the folk I meet when out with our dog. Must be an age thing.

Exactly Sara - I don’t dislike or like dogs, apart from the badly behaved/dangerous ones as I’ve already said. I do like to do human type things like shopping without having to navigate my way round an animal/listen to barking in an enclosed space/be sniffed at/worse.

Very few dog owners admit to having dogs that don’t always do as they’re supposed to do (because they’re animals obviously) - and trailing one round a department store is no difference.

What I'm wondering is, did JL do any research before coming up with the idea?
Did a majority of responses indicate that they would shop more frequently if allowed to take their dogs into a store?
What was the demographic of the research, if undertaken?
How many requests to allow all 'well behaved' dogs had been received before JL made the decision?
What percentage increase in footfall did JL expect as a result of the decision and has that been borne out by trading figures when read alongside previous years in the same quarters?
I may email HO for answers.

I’d be very interested to see the results if you do GG54

Weird the whole dog thing...groomers/doggy day care and so on.

I envisage the kind of dogs taken into a department store will be 'handbag' dogs. The reactions on this thread are way OTT. Nobody will care so little for their dog as to take it on a lead into a crowded store at Christmas.

I will have a word with my JL contact and find out if this is an attempt to increase footfall, unlikely as it may seem.

annodomini, I'm not convinced it will increase foot fall but its a genius marketing ploy.

by marketing, I do of course mean advertising

Nobody will care so little for their dog...

It never ceases to amaze me what supposedly caring dog owners actually do with their dogs. If there are dog owners who are happy to leave their dogs in cars on hot days for example, there will be dog owners who won’t think twice about taking their pooch to a crowded JL.

Iam64

I doubt very few people actually ‘loathe’ dogs, but if you aren’t a dog lover you don’t really want to see them in John Lewis.

Not all dog owners are responsible, I’ve been to a couple of beaches recently, where dogs are very specifically excluded during certain months, and they have all had dogs running around them. Many of us have had unwanted attention from dogs, and while there are many responsible dog owners, there are a lot who aren’t.

Here we go. Slowly dogs are creeping in everywhere. Not keen myself. My husband will be sending them a sharp email.

Sara65, I agree there are irresponsible dog owners. I walk my two twice a day, often we have a third, my daughter’s dog. I meet many friendly, happy people whose dogs reflect their owners. Sadly there are too many ‘professional dog walkers’ using our parks and woodland. I’ll stop there, otherwise I’ll turn into Grumpy grannie.
Still they won’t be going to John Lewis will they. I suspect there to be the occasional hand bag dog at the Cheadle branch and none at the Trafford Centre branch

Eeech , no way . I would worry that hair, poop and pee would be flying everywhere !
Our local outdoor car boot sale allows dogs and it's sometimes scary - dogs don't want to be dragged around places like that ?

I've had dogs, like some dogs but can't understand why dogs seem to be allowed in more and more public places nowadays.

They are animals and they have their place in our lives but that is not in shops (or cafes drooling on the tables as I have witnessed recently, sitting on its 'daddy's knee'!). It's not fair on the dogs either.

Unless it is an assistance dog then no, absolutely not.

Peter Jones(part of the John Lewis partnership) used to let dogs in a long time ago but stopped it, upsetting quite a few Kensington dowagers! I'm a dog lover but can't understand why people think their dog would enjoy shopping. Leave the poor things at hime

Whitewave it is not an age thing at all.
I would not have taken my dogs shopping when I was in my twenties nor would I expect to see them in department stores now.

Sorry, JL, I think you've scored an own goal here. For the few who think it is a good idea, I expect there will be 10 others who do not and will avoid the stores.

I don't loathe them. I just don't like them and some owners' attitude that if you don't like them there is something wrong with you/you are not a nice person (as I have had said to me in the past).

I take my dog everywhere I can. She loves being out and about with me. She's trained to "heel", "sit" and "lie down" and only poops and pees on grass. I live in a dog friendly city and if I need a rare but quick visit to a downtown department store my dog comes with me and is usually given a treat by a store assistant. I find dog owners here are very responsible and if their dog has behavior issues it stays home. These stores would lose a lot of money if dogs were not permitted. However, dogs are not allowed anywhere where food is sold or eaten.

I realised JL had lost the plot years ago when they removed my favourire departments such as fabrics and haberdashery and replaced with even more cosmetics and power dressing clothes.
Seems their new CEO, a woman, wanted a more upmarket image - really?
Is nowhere safe from the "furbaby brigade"?
I've been terrorised by a rottweiler on a campsite, had my picnic eaten by a lab at the beach, been drooled over on a bus and now I can't safely go shopping without watching where I tread.

KatyK

That is exactly the point, dog owners think their dogs are so loveable that everyone should love them.

It seems in recent years, dog owners have forgotten that they are actually animals, maybe JL are planning on opening a huge doggy department, diamond collars, and ridiculous little outfits, and a doggy grooming parlour. Maybe even a doggy crèche where you can leave your dog, while you go to all the shops, sensible enough not to allow them in.

Katy - I agree. There are so many dog owners who simply cannot fathom why others don’t love their dogs too (or at least, like the attention from their dog who is “just being friendly”)

Riggy
I am with you fully there. Dogs with snuffly dribbly noses who are bred to have squashed noses because the owners think they look cute.

Many of those dogs have breathing and eye problems.
Sorry folks but they do. It's wrong for the animals.

With more people holidaying at home more people are taking their dogs with them. The dog is part of the family and adds to the enjoyment - most of the time. But - you can’t leave a dog in a tent, caravan, holiday let or hotel room and certainly not (as used to happen) in your car. So shopping is out. I accept this but many don’t. Shopping is part of their life and something a lot still like to do on holiday although why one John Lewis would be different from another is a mystery. It would make more sense if museums and such like had dog days (and child free days!)